In response to “How do we feel?” in your December issue, I read with interest the fact that the gentleman classifies himself as an “ethnic minority” and continues to be offended by the blackened faces even though he understand the history behind it, which in no way represents any sort of racism whatsoever and is steeped in hundreds of years of history.

Given this, I wonder if he feels a certain sense of responsibility for his views now he has been enlightened?

Isn’t it up to all of us to understand different cultures, traditions and history regardless of our classification?

As long as there is nothing nefarious in these traditions, it’s difficult to see how can anyone can continue to be offended.

Of course, everyone has the right to be offended, just as they have a right to freedom of speech – but in response to his question, “it’s 2014, isn’t one person’s offence one too many”, I would say this; I welcome his point of view, and I hope he welcomes mine when I say he is talking utter garbage.

Which I sincerely hope he doesn’t find too offensive.

The world would stop dead in its tracks if we had to stop doing things every time one person was “offended”. We should all take responsibility for our own actions and views, and change them based on verifiable evidence.

I’m mortally offended when I see an innocent individual hacked to death in our streets by extremists – but I don’t class all Muslims the same.

Similarly I am offended by how the western world invades other countries for their resources or when the World Bank makes third world countries huge loans that they can never pay back – but not all westerners are power-hungry psychopaths.

I suggest this gentleman re-evaluates his views based on the information he has received and if he really continues to be offended, he can perhaps take comfort from knowing he lives in a country where (at the moment) he can voice his opinion freely without fear of harm or his views impeding on traditions and values that many enjoy.

I wasn’t at all interested in the Morris Dancers until I understood the reasoning behind the blackened faces which, to me, adds an altogether different and enjoyable experience to the event and one which I will support even if the PC brigade feel “uncomfortable.”

To them I say: “Get a life!” I sincerely hope this brings this matter to an end and also hope the younger employees of The Village consider things a little deeper – it’s not only the majority that have responsibilities.

I look forward to the next publication of The Village with a beautiful picture of our traditional Morris men when the time is right.